By Alessandro Parodi

(Reuters) -At least a third of surveyed companies have paused or delayed stainless steel orders because of U.S. import tariffs of up to 50%, while more than half are reassessing their sourcing strategy, Finnish steelmaker Outokumpu said on Monday.

Outokumpu President and CEO Kati ter Horst told Reuters the slowing global demand means current European Union import quotas are too high, and that she expects the European Commission to announce in October measures to curb imports of steel from rivals to protect domestic producers.

The measures will replace current safeguards due to end next summer and might come into effect even a quarter earlier, she added.

WHY IT MATTERS

A third of businesses switched steel suppliers as of May, while the addition in August of hundred

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